o connor



J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Original Filed June 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Irwenfar June 21. i927.

J F. O'CONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I v Original Filed June 8, 1925 1 3 24 4, 17

Patented June 21, 1927.

Ul llTElTl fiTATES Ot FiCll.

JOHN F. OCONNOB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO W. H. MINER, INO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FRICTION SHOCK-ABSORBING MECHANISM.

Application filed June 8, 1925, Serial This invention relafrs to improvements in friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism especially adapted for railway draft rigging's, having high cai mcity combined with graduated action, wherein a plurality of relatively movable friction plates are employed to produce a heavy frictional resistance, the plates being; bodily movable in unison during one of the stages of the graduated action for a predetermined portion of the compression stroke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated, including a friction shell having curved in terior friction surfaces: wedge spreading means; a main spring resistance; a plurality of intercalated curved friction plates movable in unison with reference to the shell during a. predetermined con'ipression of the mechanism. means being provided comprising a carrier to which certain of the plates are anchored to arrest movement of said plates by engagement of the carrier with stop means on the shell and permit movement of the remaining plates with reference thereto during: the remainder of the compres sion stroke to etfect heavy tinal frictional resistance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully and clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

in the. drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a longitudinal, horizontal, sectional view of a portion of the railway t raft. rigging". showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a front end elevational view of the shock absorbing mechanism proper. Figure 33 is a vertical, transverse, sectional view correspending substantially to the line 3 3 of Figure 1. And Figures 4 and 5 are detailed, side clevational views respectively of two different friction plates used in connection with my improved mechanism.

In said drawings, l0-l0 indicate channel-shaped center or draft sills of a railway car underframe. to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs ll ll and rear stop lugs il3l2. The inner end portion of the drawbar is designated by 13. to which is opcratively connected a hooded yoke it. of well known form. The shock absorbing No. 35,701. Renewed April 18, 1927.

mechanism proper, as well as a front main follower 15, are disposed within the yoke. The yoke and the parts therewithin are operatively supported by a detachable saddle plate 16 fixed to the respective draft sills.

My improved shock absorbing mechanism proper, as shown, comprises broadly, a coinhined friction shell and spring cage casting A; a main wedge B: two friction-wedgeshoes CC: a spider D; two sets of friction plates E and F; a spring follower G; a main spring resistance H; and a retainer bolt J. he casting A has the friction shell proper 17 formed at the forward end thereof. The friction shell has spaced, horizontally disposed l'lat top and bottom walls 1818 and spaced curved side walls 1919. The side walls at the inner end of the friction shell are inwardly otlset as indicated at- 2020, thereby providing vertically disposed alined shoulders 2L---2l on the opposite sides of the shell. ltmirwardly of the friction shell proper, the casting A is made of reduced section to provide a spring cage 121, the spring cage having a transverse end wall 22 adapted to co-operate with the rear stop lugs 12 in the manner of the usual rear follower. Each side wall it) of the spring cage is provided with a liner 23 on the inner side thereof. Each liner 23 has a pair of laterally outwardly projecting flanges id--24 at the front? and rear ends thereof seated in suitable recesses provided in the corresponding side wall. The inner side of each liner is provided with a true cylindrical friction surface 25 inclined slightly with reference to the longitudinal axis of the mechanism. As will be evident, the opposed faces 25 of the two liners converge inwardly of the mechanisni.

The wedge I3 is in the form of a relatively heavy block having: a pair of laterally extending flanges 26 at the opposite sides thereof. At the forward end, the wedge B has a flat transverse face 27 adapted to bear on the inner side of the main follower 15. The main body portion of the wedge is pro vided with a pair of inwardly converging flat wedge faces 28 at the inner end thereof.

The friction shoes C which are two in nun'iher. are disposed at the opposite sides of the wedge. Each shoe C has a longitudinally disposed outer true cylindrical friction surface 29 inclined slightly inwardly with reference to the longitudinal axis of the pair of inwardly extendiiuy; slots 323 13 at the top and bottom sides thereof fo' a purpose hereinafter described. As most clearlv shown in Figure l, the arms 2-32 are of such length that the outer ends thereof will. operate with the inner ends of the liners and the shoulders 21 of the shell to limit the increment of the spr ng with reference to the shell. The shoulders Ell are so spaced with reference to the inner ends of the linm's that a predeterlninol amount of inwari movement of the spider is permittaal during the compression of the mechanism.

The friction plates "ti and if are m'raw 'ed in two groups at opposite sides of the iltnism. Each group prcferaoly comprises thlieeplates F1 and three plates l the plates E being alternated with the plates l n iost clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4-, each of the plates .ll isof curvetl section l :lViilQ inner andouter true cylindrfcal tri l on surfaces. Atthe inner end, each plate lu s contrally cut away as indicated at 34- thereby providing a pair of arms adapted to freely embrace the corresponding; arm 32 of the spider. The openings El i are of such a length as to permit the proper amount of inward movement of the plates with reference to lit the spider during the compression of the mechanism. The outernios'st plate E has the convex outer friction surfaces thereof directly enpiagingr the friction surface of the corresponding liner 23. surface of this plate co-operates Willi next adjacent plate F. The remaining t plates E of each group have their outer a. inner friction surfacesrespectively coper- The inner friction the ating with the inner and outer friction surfaces of the two Qd lQCQlllL- friction plates F.

The three friction plates F of each group are of like construction. As most clearly shownin Figures 3 and 5 the plates F are also of curved section and have inner and outertrue cylindrical friction surfaces. The inner and outer friction surfaces of the outermost plates F of each group co-operate with the corresponding; friction surfaces: of the outermost plates E of that group while the innermost plate F of each group has the inner friction surface thereof cooperating with the corresponding friction surface 29 of the adjacent friction wedge shoes C. At the inner ench each friction plate F is provided with a T shaped opening 35, thereby eeaece presenting a pair of inwardly extending lugs The lugs 36 of each plate are adapted to engage within the top and bottom slots 9,?) of the corresponding); are) of. the spider The three plates F of each group are thus anchored to the spider for movement in unison therewith.

'llhe spring follower G comprises a relalively heavy platelike section 37 and a for wardly projecting cylindrical section 38. the section 38 of the sprint follower is adapted to worl: freely within the ringportion 31 of the spider l) and the outer end thereof is adapted to engage the tint rear faces 30 of the friction shoes 0. As most clearlf," shown in Figure l, the plate like sec tion of the follower projects heyoml the op posite sides of the cylindrical portion there of and is adapted to normally engage the rear ends of the plates lid of the two groups.

'lfhe main spring-1 resistance l'l comprises a relatively heavy outer coil and a lighter inner coil the outer coil having its opposite ends hearing respectively on the end wall 22 of the casting A and the inner side of the spring follower (l. The inner coil has its front end hearing on the spring follower G and its rear end bearing on an inwardly projecting hollow boss 39 on the transverse end wall 2 of the casting A.

The mechanism is held of overall uniform length and in assembled relation by the adjustahle retainer holt- .l which has its opposite ends anchored respectively to the hollow hoss 89 of the spring cage and the main wedge B, the shank of the bolt extending through a longitudinal. opening; in the spring follower and the shoes being; cut away at their inner side to acconnnodate the corresponding; sides of said shank. The head of the bolt which is at the forward end thereof is accommodated for movement in an opening 40 provided in the wedge block The normal position of the parts is that shown in nigurc 1, the friction plates l be ing in their outermost position with their front ends spaced slightly from the flanges 26 of the wedge B. in this position of the parts, the spring follower is in engagement with the inner ends of the plates E and the inner ends of the shoes C. The spider D is in engagement with the inner encs of the liners 23, thereby maintaining the plates F in proper position.

Compensation for wear of the various friction and wedge faces is had by the expansion of the main springresistance H which is placed under initial compression when the mechanism is assembled.

The operation of my improved shock ahsol-hingmechanism proper, assuming a compression stroke, is follows: The front follower 15 and the casting A will be moved relatively toward each other, carrying); the wedge B inwardly of the friction shell, set-- till ting up a wedging action between the same and the friction shoes. During the initial compression of the mechanism, the friction shoes C will slip inwardly on the friction surfaces of the innermost plates F of the two groups. In this connection, it is pointed out that the friction wedge shoes and plates are of steel while the liners 23 of the friction shell are castings. Consequently, there will be less friction between the shoes and the innermost plates F than between the outermost plates E and the liners, thereby assuring the initial sliding action taking place between the shoes and the innermost friction plates.

The initial movement just described will continue until the outer ends of the plates E are engaged by the flanges 26 of wedge B, whereupon the plates R will be forced to move inwardly of the shell with the wedge B. In this connection it is pointed out that the inner surface of each flange 26 is preferably disposed at an angle of 90 to the axis of inclination of the cylindrical friction surfaces of the plates of the corresponding group, thereby assuring simultaneous en gagement of all of the plates of said group of the flange 26, the outer edge faces of the plates of said group being also disposed at an angle of 90 to said axis of inclination. During the action last described, due to the friction existing between the various parts, the plates i will be carried inwardly in uni son with the plates E. As the plates F are anchored to the spider D, the latter will also be carried inwardly of the friction shell. During this time, friction will be created be tween the friction shell and'the outermost plates of the two groups. The last described action will continue until the arms of the spider engage the shoulders 21 of the friclion shell, whereupon inward movement of the spider will be positively arrested, also arresting movement of the plates I During the remainder of the compression stroke, the plates I) will be forced to slide with reference to the plates F and the friction shoes will slide on the innermost plates F of each group, thereby greatly augmenting the resistance offered. As will be evident during the initial movement hereinbefore described. the plate-like section of the spring follower (i will be moved out of contact with the inner ends of the plates ll, thereby greatly facilitating release of the wedging system when the actuating force is removed, it being evident that the spring follower will act to release the wedge friction system before the inner ends of the plates E are engaged thereby. The compression of the mechanism will continue either until the actuating force is removed, or the follower 15 comes into engagement with the outer end of the casting A, whereupon the force will be transmitted directly through the latter. relieving the main springs from excessive pressure.

lVhen the actuating pressure is reduced, the parts will be restored to normal position by the expansive action of the main spring resistance I-I. During the release action, the spring follower will first force the wedge friction shoes C outwardly, the plate like section of the spring follower finally picking up thefriction plates E and carrying the same outwardly of the shell. Due to the friction existing between the various friction plates, the plates F will be carried outwardly with the friction plates E until the arms 32 of the spider come into engagement with the inner ends of the liners 23. whereupon outward movement of the plates F will be positively arrested.

It will be evident from the preceding description, taken in connection with the drawings, that I have provided a high capacity gear having graduated action during the compression stroke. By providing the graduated action, my gear is particularly adapted for passenger car service, inasmuch as abrupt and sudden shocks are entirely eliminated due to the blending of the different stages of the compression.

lVhile I have herein shown and described the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a friction shock absorbing mecha nism, the combination with a friction shell having interior curved friction surfaces; of a follower, said shell and follower being relatively movable toward and from each other; two groups of curved friction plates disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism and co-operating with the friction surfaces of the shell. said two groups of plates being movable as a unit during relative movement of said shell and follower; means for arresting movement of certain of said plates of each group after a predetermined portion of the con'ipression stroke to compel the remaining plates to move rt-rlatively thereto; a main spring resistance; and lateral pressure-creating means interposed between said two groups of plates for placing the same under lateral pressure upon relative move ment of said shell and follower.

2. in a friction shock absorbing mcchanisin, the combination with a friction shell having longitmlinally disposed curved friction surfaces: of a pressure-transmitting member, said members being relatively movable toward and away from each other: a carrier relatively movable to said friction shell: two sets of curved friction plates within the friction shell, each set comprising a plurality of plates alternated with the Ill) III

plates of theremaining set, certain of said plates being anchored to saidtcarrier; means for limiting "the relative movement of said carrier am Friction member; lateral Wed pressure cr :ing means co .ipe1iatin{l( \Vl-H- said pressure transmitting member *l'or plncinn said plates under lateiral premium; and a main sprii'ig resis'linicc.

2 lo a friction shock :ibrioirbinn mechanism the con'ibinalion with a friction shell having longitudinally dis iioi-ied, iimardly converging curved friction suri oi" a pressure t ansmit ting member, said number and shell being; relatively movable toward and away from each other: a carrier having limited movement with reference to aces;

1 l friction shell; a phnralitv oi intercalated' relatively movable cur cil tion plates Within the shell certain ol said plates being anchored to the carrier: means for lin'iiting the relative moven'ient o't Sllil carrier and hit tion shell; lateral PlQfl-lllfi creating means cooperating with said pr i'in'e nsznittir n'ieans for placing the plates under late pressure, and a main spring res st-hire a i entire spring resistance co-operi,ling W said laterallpressure crc inn means.

4-. In a friction shoch alr'orbin inecha- .nism, the con'ibination with i ii: i a shell having opposed, longitndinall n arran sn-wl curved 'lrictiim surfaces; oi a pressuretransmitting member having Wedge mean; associated therewith said mes'nber .nil shell being relatively movable toward and away from each other; a, carrier relatively movable to said it'riction shell; two groups ct curved friction plates at opposite sides of the shell and co-operating with the friction surtaccs thereoifl certain oi? said plates being anchored to said carrier; means for limiting the relative movement of said carrier and "friction shell; friction Wedge shoes intew posed between said Wedge and the two groups of friction plates; and a main springresistance.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a friction shell having interior curved friction surfaces'disposed on opposite sides thereof; of two groups of friction plates co-operating'res'spectively with the two friction shellsurt'aces, all of said plates being relatively movable n unison with respect to the shell. during a portion of the compression stroke; a carrier having limited movement With reference to the shelli and to "which: contain oi the plates of each: group are anchored wheneby rela tive movement of: said last-named plates and shell is arrested aiiter a predete .ined cone prcssii'ni oil the n'icchanisn'i; a

Wedge-triction system ii'iterposed' between said two groups oi plates, said system including the 'VvQtlg'P- pre sure transniittsing member and a pair oi friction shoes, said shoes having}; longitudinally disposed curved friction surfaces cooperating with the curved "friction surfaces of the innermost plates; and a main spring certain oi said plates being anchoiied lo the carrier and the rcniainder of the plates being mo able rela tively thereto; a main spring follower co operating with [he wedgenessure creating means and said movable plates for restoring ,flllt! to normal position; and a main .;pr1 lPSlSittlM'C cooperating with said s i iri i 1;; tollo Wei.

7. lo a fll'l vt-ion shock absorbing niechaiii an, the combination with a l'rict iim shell interim curved tt'riction surfaces; oi? apiessuretrausmitting member having Wedge means associatedthe'rcivilh, said member and shell being relatively movable toward and from eaclrother; two groups oi? relativi-ily movable friction plates disposed at opposite sides of the mechanism; a carrier having limited movement with reference to the friction shelh certain of said plates of each group being; anchored to said carrier and the remaining plates having their front ends normallyslightly spaced from sai l pressoretransmitting member to provide for pro liminary action; Wedge-friction shoxs interposed between said Wedge and said groups of plates; and a main spring; resistai'ice cooperating With said Wedge-trictioil-shoes.

lin Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of May, 1925.

JOHN F. OCONNOR.

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